Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what contractual obligations hotels providing contingency accommodation for asylum seekers are under; and whether these obligations ensure unaccompanied asylum-seeking children do not go missing.

The safety and wellbeing of asylum seekers in our care is of paramount importance to the Home Office. We expect high standards from all of our providers, and we have a robust governance framework in place to manage service delivery of the Asylum Accommodation Support Contracts (AASC). Details of the AASC can be found at: New asylum accommodation contracts awarded - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab)

We have safeguarding procedures in place to ensure all unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in hotels are as safe and supported as possible whilst we seek urgent placements with a local authority.  Young people are supported by team leaders and support workers who are on site 24 hours a day. Further care is provided in hotels by teams of social workers and nurses.  Staff, including contractors, receive a number of briefings and guidance on how to safeguard children.